The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-02-10
The Other Side.

EDrToR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Justice
ought to be as cheap as the dew, but half the
time it costs more TO get it than it is worth"
aud it would seem to me that this must be
about the state of feeling that Gen. Black has in
regard TO the Dabney matter 1t must be a
little trying to his patience to note how ready
many of his comrades have been to criticize and
repudiate as an act of his a matter in which he
had not figured at all. 1t has already been
clearly shown that DIR. Il. S. Dabney obtained
his appointment as Medical Examiner of the
Pension Bureau through the regular channel
of the Civil Service examination, and that he
is too young a man to have had anything to do
with the question of the dark days of 1861 to
1865. Some prejudiced person, knowing him
to be a native Of Southern State, assumed too
much in connection Herewith, and the whole
natter seems to have been carried on as a
question of personal prejudice.
In all justice it must be acknowledged that
Gen. Black has, from the very beginning of his
administration, shown a desire to aid not DO
litical aspirants. but needy soldiers, and from
absolute personal knowledge / could recount
case after case where claims have been acted
upon specially, because the soldiers were suf-
fering, totally disabled, dependent upon
charity, ETC. There is an instance in this city
which occurred but a few days ago. A COM
rade of Rawlins Post, No. 1, G.. A. r., Depart
ment of Potomac, reported to the Commissioner
OF TENSIONS CldlulduL WIN WAS Su1tTlDR IOT
| the necessaries of life. He was in a dying con-
dition, and dependent upon the G.. A. X. His
claim proved to be nearly completed, but it
would have been some time before il was
reached in regular order. With the knowledge
of the soldiers suffering condition the Com
missioner had the claim settled at the earliest
| possible date. And this is the result-the SOL
dier's life is being prolonged because of the
comforts that are made possible to him through
| tha Of Aglr fbia Qaldiar hic
| opinion of Gen. Black, and ask the comrades
! of the Grand Army Of this Department, and of
| any other Department where he is known,
| and YOU will find that the unanimous opinion
| is, God bless him
| IL is not many days since an old soldier won
nv ear with the following story: He found
| himself and wife stranded in this city, his
| wifi. in IN health, and he without means to
send her to his friends. In his distress he
| sought Gen Black and asked for position as
4 Watchman for one month. He had no recon-
/ mendations nothing save his own plain story
| and his honorable discharge from the service.
| Was he turned away? No; he was given the
place requested for one month, the time he de-
| sired, and he accomplished the purpose for
| which he sought it.
| These are but two incidents and the DAYS
are filed with many of the same; and, COM
rades ask you to take the word of one who
| knows, and find out the facts from reliable
sources, rather than permit rashness to control
your actions, as it appears to have done in the
matter of resolutions relative to the appoint
ment of Dr. T. s. Dabney.
Many of the Posts who were led into such
/ indiscretion have been honest enough to come
TO the front like true soldiers and apologize for
their haste. This is as it should be, and they
come finding an honest man to deal with, one
who fought, suffered and still suffers with them
one whose well-deserved popularity among his
comrades has been strongly attested to by let
| tiers Of the warmest character from officers OF
| Departments and Posts from Maine to Oregon.
am impelled to add one more statement. In
all my acquaintance i have never met a man
whom so fully believed in as being thoroughly
independent as | do in Gen. Black. His every
action proves that he cannot be Influenced, and
that with him fright is might" If were to
criticize him at all i would say that he was too
| independent too careless Of public opinion
] but we, who have risked all for our country,